How fresh are your fruits? – A gas measurement exercise

By Richard Needham This is a simple exercise involving measuring gases, which reveals some surprising secrets. It can give rise to interesting discussions around what we mean as scientists by the term ‘living’. You can do this activity at any level in school – the data you collect could be used: Key Stage 1 – [...]

Valentine’s Day Science Lesson Planning Ideas

by Mark Langley. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, no doubt many of you will be looking for ideas to link your class activity with a day that may be on many of your students minds.  In our video, Mark Langley, one of the Professional Development Leaders at the National Science Learning Centre demonstrates how to [...]

12 Christmas activities in the science classroom

Ho ho ho.  It’s the last few days of school before the Christmas holidays and your pupils are all far too excited to concentrate on anything other than the looming visit by the big man in red  – and the possibility of making snowmen. So how do you keep their minds engaged on the subject, [...]

What time is feeding time?

by Richard Needham Here is a suggestion for an activity you can use with children of primary or secondary age. It involves collecting information about when birds visit a bird feeder over a twelve hour period. I used it to find out if feeding patterns in garden birds are linked to changing light levels. You [...]